(Po)sts tagged "public space"

BKSK has a passion for implementing design excellence in public spaces, in particular parks and playgrounds. From the Kidpower! Playground and Preschool Garden for the New York Hall of Science, to a series of comfort stations across the NYC boroughs for the NYC Department of Parks and Recreation, to the Minnewaska State Park Visitor’s Center, these projects are carefully designed with sensitivity to the visitors, site, community, and environment.

We are proud to announce that two such BKSK projects were among the honorees of the Society of American Registered Architects (SARA) 2016 Celebration of Architecture and Design Program. Washington Square Park House received a Design Award of Excellence, and Battery PlayScape received a Design Award of Honor. Congratulations to the project teams!

On Wednesday July 22nd, join us for a gallery talk by Joan Krevlin entitled “The World of Tomorrow, Today: New projects on three New York World’s Fair Sites.” Presented as part of the Godwin-Ternbach Museum’s exhibition “PERSUASIVE IMAGES: Architecture of the 1939–40 & 1964–65 New York World’s Fairs,” Joan’s talk will explore how a series of new civic projects in Flushing Meadows Corona Park is continuing the legacy of design innovation spurred by the 1939 and 1964 New York World’s Fairs.

The gallery talk is free and open to the public. Learn more online or on Facebook.

The rink at Manhattan’s Riverbank State Park stays open through March.

The spate of recent snowfalls reminds us that winter is far from over. Sometimes, treacherous footing at almost every corner can be a strong disincentive to be out and about, but skating can be the antidote to this seasonal inactivity! We can step into a world where the sudden loss of friction due to ice is … exhilarating. Here, we describe some of the boroughs’ skating options – wonderful and adaptable public spaces – where we can stay outside while being socially and physically active. Read More

While New York City’s staircases range in styles and surroundings, each one provides chances for observation.

So many of the stairways we traverse in our travels throughout the five boroughs aren’t memorable – fire stairs to avoid waiting for an elevator or subway stairs hurriedly taken as the train is arriving. A few are iconic. The notion of visiting Lincoln Center, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, or Columbia University conjures a sense of gracious public space. Some of NYC’s great stairs are more hidden, or new, making it helpful to be reminded of their charm. Read More

“City Pillars,” by Dean Monogenis, is located on the southwest shore of Randall’s Island and is on view until November 15, 2014.

As the weather cools, New York City’s public spaces set the stage for crisp new forms of recreation. In particular, this November will offer some delightful opportunities to experience public art in parks, plazas, even quasi-public courtyards. The journey can be one of discovery, too – not necessarily in plotting a direct course to Lincoln Center, but when ranging further afield. As a public nexus of creative expression, our city provides us with rich and spontaneous access to everything from the ephemeral to the permanent, the highly rational to the delightfully wild. Read More

PS 41 students join public officials in cutting the ribbon on Washington Square Park’s major renovation.

On Tuesday, an impressive crowd gathered in Washington Square Park to cut the ribbon on a multi-year renovation project that preserved some of the park’s most historic features and provided important upgrades, including a new parkhouse designed by BKSK. Needless to say, we are very proud to have contributed to the revitalization of such a lively, public, and historic place. Read More

Just ask noted architecture critic James Gardner, who recently paid a visit to our newly completed park house. In his review of Washington Square Park’s renovation for The Real Deal, “Washington Square Park redo a hit,” Gardner writes that “[o]ne of the best parts of the renovation is a one-story structure, with a parabolic footprint, that interacts masterfully with its newly landscaped surroundings.”

Gardner continues by lauding our “sensitive use of modern architecture, with just a touch of contextualism” and noting how key choices regarding materials and form ensure the building’s integration into the park’s overall setting.

The 3,100 square foot park house consolidates administrative, maintenance and public restroom facilities under one roof. Expected to achieve LEED Platinum certification, the facility runs almost exclusively off of self-generated energy, due to several sustainable design choices such as the use of photovoltaic panels and ground-source heat. The building’s stone was locally sourced and the wood is reclaimed. Learn more about the park house here.

Washington Square Park celebrates its major renovation, including the new park house, on June 10th.